A Branching Time Temporal Framework for Quantitative Reasoning

Temporal logics such as Computation Tree Logic (CTL) and Linear Temporal Logic (LTL) have become popular for specifying temporal properties over a wide variety of planning and verification problems. In this paper we work towards building a generalized framework for automated reasoning based on temporal logics. We present a powerful extension of CTL with first-order quantification over the set of reachable states for reasoning about extremal properties of weighted labeled transition systems in general. The proposed logic, which we call Weighted Quantified Computation Tree Logic (WQCTL), captures the essential elements common to the domain of planning and verification problems and can thereby be used as an effective specification language in both domains. We show that in spite of the rich, expressive power of the logic, we are able to evaluate WQCTL formulas in time polynomial in the size of the state space times the length of the formula. Wepresent experimental results on the WQCTL verifier.     

Deciding Regular Grammar Logics with Converse Through First-Order Logic

We provide a simple translation of the satisfiability problem for regular grammar logics with converse into GF², which is the intersection of the guarded fragment and the 2-variable fragment of first-order logic. The translation is theoretically interesting because it translates modal logics with certain frame conditions into first-order logic, without explicitly expressing the frame conditions. It is practically relevant because it makes it possible to use a decision procedure for the guarded fragment in order to decide regular grammar logics with converse. The class of regular grammar logics includes numerous logics from various application domains. A consequence of the translation is that the general satisfiability problem for every regular grammar logics with converse is in EXPTIME. This extends a previous result of the first author for grammar logics without converse. Other logics that can be translated into GF² include nominal tense logics and intuitionistic logic. In our view, the results in this paper show that the natural first-order fragment corresponding to regular grammar logics is simply GF² without extra machinery such as fixed-point operators.     

The Right Tools for the Job: Correctness of Cone of Influence Reduction Proved Using ACL2 and HOL4

We present a case study illustrating how to exploit the expressive power of higher-order logic to complete a proof whose main lemma is already proved in a first-order theorem prover. Our proof exploits a link between the HOL4 and ACL2 proof systems to show correctness of a cone of influence reduction algorithm, implemented in ACL2, with respect to the classical semantics of linear temporal logic, formalized in HOL4.     

区间时序逻辑的标记相继式演算

区间逻辑在许多领域如人工智能,形式化方法中都有成功应用。其中,区间时序逻辑及其各种扩充近年来越来越多地受到人们的重视,由于区间时序逻辑具有较强的表达能力,这也使得该逻辑的定理证明变得相当困难,该文提出了区间时序逻辑的一个标记相继式演算,并给出其可靠性和相对完备性结论。该演算应用于机器辅助定理证明工具中,可以有效地提高证明的自动化程度,在高阶逻辑证明了工具ＰＶＳ中,作者尝试性地实现了这一演算,获得了     

A survey on temporal logics for specifying and verifying real-time systems

Over the last two decades, there has been an extensive study of logical formalisms on specifying and verifying real-time systems. Temporal logics have been an important research subject within this direction. Although numerous logics have been introduced for formal specification of real-time and complex systems, an up to date survey of these logics does not exist in the literature. In this paper we analyse various temporal formalisms introduced for specification, including propositional/first-order linear temporal logics, branching temporal logics, interval temporal logics, real-time temporal logics and probabilistic temporal logics. We give decidability, axiomatizability, expressiveness, model checking results for each logic analysed. We also provide a comparison of features of the temporal logics discussed.     

Mechanising first-order temporal resolution

First-order temporal logic is a concise and powerful notation, with many potential applications in both Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence. While the full logic is highly complex, recent work on monodic first-order temporal logics has identified important enumerable and even decidable fragments. Although a complete and correct resolution-style calculus has already been suggested for this specific fragment, this calculus involves constructions too complex to be of practical value. In this paper, we develop a machine-oriented clausal resolution method which features radically simplified proof search. We first define a normal form for monodic formulae and then introduce a novel resolution calculus that can be applied to formulae in this normal form. By careful encoding, parts of the calculus can be implemented using classical first-order resolution and can, thus, be efficiently implemented. We prove correctness and completeness results for the calculus and illustrate it on a comprehensive example. An implementation of the method is briefly discussed.     

The consistency of syntactical treatments of knowledge1 (How to compile quantificational modal logics into classical FOL)

The relative expressive power of a sentential operator □α is compared to that of a syntactical predicate L(‘α’) in the setting of first-order logics. Despite well-known results by Montague and by Thomason that claim otherwise, any of the so-called “modal” logics of knowledge and belief can be compiled into classical first-order logics that have a corresponding predicate on sentences. Moreover, through the use of a partial truth predicate, the standard modal axiom schemata can be translated into single sentences, making it possible to use conventional first-order logic theorem provers to directly derive results in a wide class of modal logics.     

A connectionist computational model for epistemic and temporal reasoning

The importance of the efforts to bridge the gap between the connectionist and symbolic paradigms of artificial intelligence has been widely recognized. The merging of theory (background knowledge) and data learning (learning from examples) into neural-symbolic systems has indicated that such a learning system is more effective than purely symbolic or purely connectionist systems. Until recently, however, neural-symbolic systems were not able to fully represent, reason, and learn expressive languages other than classical propositional and fragments of first-order logic. In this article, we show that nonclassical logics, in particular propositional temporal logic and combinations of temporal and epistemic (modal) reasoning, can be effectively computed by artificial neural networks. We present the language of a connectionist temporal logic of knowledge (CTLK). We then present a temporal algorithm that translates CTLK theories into ensembles of neural networks and prove that the translation is correct. Finally, we apply CTLK to the muddy children puzzle, which has been widely used as a test-bed for distributed knowledge representation. We provide a complete solution to the puzzle with the use of simple neural networks, capable of reasoning about knowledge evolution in time and of knowledge acquisition through learning.     

Graphical scenarios for specifying temporal properties: an automated approach

Temporal logics are commonly used for reasoning about concurrent systems. Model checkers and other finite-state verification techniques allow for automated checking of system model compliance to given temporal properties. These properties are typically specified as linear-time formulae in temporal logics. Unfortunately, the level of inherent sophistication required by these formalisms too often represents an impediment to move these techniques from “research theory” to “industry practice”. The objective of this work is to facilitate the nontrivial and error prone task of specifying, correctly and without expertise in temporal logic, temporal properties. In order to understand the basis of a simple but expressive formalism for specifying temporal properties we critically analyze commonly used in practice visual notations. Then we present a scenario-based visual language called Property Sequence Chart (PSC) that, in our opinion, fixes the highlighted lacks of these notations by extending a subset of UML 2.0 Interaction Sequence Diagrams. We also provide PSC with both denotational and operational semantics. The operational semantics is obtained via translation into Büchi automata and the translation algorithm is implemented as a plugin of our Charmy tool. Expressiveness of PSC has been validated with respect to well known property specification patterns. Preliminary results appeared in (Autili et al. 2006a).     

A decidable first-order logic for knowledge representation

Decidable first-order logics with reasonable model-theoretic semantics have several benefits for knowledge representation. These logics have the expressive power of standard first order logic along with an inference algorithm that will always terminate, both important considerations for knowledge representation. Knowledge representation systems that include a faithful implementation of one of these logics can also use its model-theoretic semantics to provide meanings for the data they store. One such logic, a variant of a simple type of first-order relevance logic, is developed and its properties described. This logic, although extremely weak, does capture a non-trivial and well-motivated set of inferences that can be entrusted to a knowledge representation system.This is a revised and much extended version of a paper of the same name that appears in the Proceedings of the Ninth International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Los Angeles, California, 1985.     

Clausal resolution in a logic of rational agency

A resolution based proof system for a Temporal Logic of Possible Belief is presented. This logic is the combination of the branching-time temporal logic CTL (representing change over time) with the modal logic KD45 (representing belief ). Such combinations of temporal or dynamic logics and modal logics are useful for specifying complex properties of multi-agent systems. Proof methods are important for developing verification techniques for these complex multi-modal logics. Soundness, completeness and termination of the proof method are shown and simple examples illustrating its use are given.     

模态逻辑推理的翻译方法

文中研究了模态逻辑推理的翻译法，即把模态逻辑公式按照一定的规则翻译成经典逻辑公式，再用传统的定理器进行推理，文中指出，该方法在理论上保持了正规命题模态逻辑的可判定性，还给出了一些试验结果，说明该方法实际可行的。     

Quantified Computation Tree Logic

Computation Tree Logic (CTL) is one of the most syntactically elegant and computationally attractive temporal logics for branching time model checking. In this paper, we observe that while CTL can be verified in time polynomial in the size of the state space times the length of the formula, there is a large set of reachability properties which cannot be expressed in CTL, but can still be verified in polynomial time. We present a powerful extension of CTL with first-order quantification over sets of reachable states. The extended logic, QCTL, preserves the syntactic elegance of CTL while enhancing its expressive power significantly. We show that QCTL model checking is PSPACE-complete in general, but has a rich fragment (containing CTL) which can be checked in polynomial time. We show that this fragment is significantly more expressive than CTL while preserving the syntactic beauty of CTL.     

An autonomous multistrategy theorem proving system using knowledge-based techniques

Most general-purpose theorem-proving systems have weak search control. There is no alternative to the use of a large number of heuristics or strategies for search guidance. Choosing appropriate strategies for solving a given problem may require the knowledge of different strategies and may involve a lot of painstaking trial-and-error. To encourage the widespread use of computer reasoning systems, it is important that a theorem prover be usable by those with little knowledge of problem-solving strategies, and that a theorem prover be able to select good strategies for the user. An autonomous multistrategy theorem-proving system is developed, using knowledge-based techniques, to entirely free the user from the necessity of understanding the system or the merits of different strategies. All the user has to do is input his or her problem in first-order logic, and the system solves the problem efficiently for him or her without any manual intervention. The system embodies much of expert knowledge about how to solve problems. The knowledge is represented as metarules in knowledge base which guide a hyperlinking theorem prover to solve problems automatically and efficiently.     

结合度量空间和时间的逻辑

与时态和空间有关的推理问题是人工智能研究中重要的组成部分,近年来时空逻辑的研究受到相关领域研究者的极大重视。以多维逻辑为框架表示时空知识,提出了一组将度量空间逻辑和时态逻辑相结合的逻辑模型PTL-MS、PTL-MS1、PTL-MS2,表示和推理随时间变化的距离关系,看成是时态逻辑和度量逻辑的迪卡尔乘积,给出了语义和语法,研究了它们的表达能力,用于时空约束满足问题、时空知识库以及移动对象数据库(MOD)等。     

时态逻辑描述能力比较研究

时态逻辑在软件确认和模型检查中有广泛的应用。时态逻辑的不同变体有不同描述能力。正确理解时态逻辑的描述能力有助于书写系统特性的正确时态逻辑公式特性。论文从语法、语义域定义和语法到语义域映射三个方面对不同时态逻辑加以描述,对时态逻辑描述能力进行了比较。     

语义网的一阶逻辑推理技术支持

研究了一阶逻辑推理工具对语义网的推理支持.语义网的关键推理问题可以化为公式的可满足性判定问题.一阶逻辑的自动定理证明器可以证明不可满足性,而有限模型查找器为可满足的公式在有限域内构造模型.提出在语义网的推理中,同时使用定理证明器和有限模型查找器.实验结果表明,这样可以解决描述逻辑工具的不足,并可以弥补定理证明器对可满足的公式推理的不完备性.     

An Event-Based Fragment of First-Order Logic over Intervals

We consider a new fragment of first-order logic with two variables. This logic is defined over interval structures. It constitutes unary predicates, a binary predicate and a function symbol. Considering such a fragment of first-order logic is motivated by defining a general framework for event-based interval temporal logics. In this paper, we present a sound, complete and terminating decision procedure for this logic. We show that the logic is decidable, and provide a NEXPTIME complexity bound for satisfiability. This result shows that even a simple decidable fragment of first-order logic has NEXPTIME complexity.     

带有时钟变量的线性时序逻辑与实时系统验证

为了描述实时系统的性质和行为,10多年来,各种不同的时序逻辑,如Timed Computation Tree Logic,Metric Interval Temporal Logic和Real-Time Temporal Logic等相继提出来.这些时序逻辑适于表示实时系统的性质和规范,但不适于表示实时系统的实现模型.这样,在基于时序逻辑的实时系统的研究中,系统的性质和实现通常是用两种不同的语言来表示的.定义了一个带有时钟变量的线性时序逻辑(linear temporal logic with clocks,简称LTLC).它是由Manna和Pnueli提出的线性时序逻辑在实时情况下的一个推广.LTLC既能表示实时系统的性质,又能很方便地表示实时系统的实现.它能在统一的语义框架中表示出从高级的需求规范到低级的实现模型之间的不同抽象层次上的系统描述,并且能用逻辑蕴涵来表示不同抽象层次的系统描述之间的语义一致性.LTLC的这个特点将有助于实时系统的性质验证和实时系统的逐步求精.     

The light side of interval temporal logic: the Bernays-Schönfinkel fragment of CDT

Decidability and complexity of the satisfiability problem for the logics of time intervals have been extensively studied in the recent years. Even though most interval logics turn out to be undecidable, meaningful exceptions exist, such as the logics of temporal neighborhood and (some of) the logics of the subinterval relation. In this paper, we explore a different path to decidability: instead of restricting the set of modalities or imposing severe semantic restrictions, we take the most expressive interval temporal logic studied so far, namely, Venema’s CDT, and we suitably limit the negation depth of modalities. The decidability of the satisfiability problem for the resulting fragment, called CDT_BS, over the class of all linear orders, is proved by embedding it into a well-known decidable quantifier prefix class of first-order logic, namely, Bernays-Schönfinkel class. In addition, we show that CDT_BS is in fact NP-complete (Bernays-Schönfinkel class is NEXPTIME-complete), and we prove its expressive completeness with respect to a suitable fragment of Bernays-Schönfinkel class. Finally, we show that any increase in the negation depth of CDT_BS modalities immediately yields undecidability.